LEED Programme (Local Economic and Employment Development)

Capacity Building Seminar on “Enhancing the Capacity of Partnerships to Influence Policy" - Presentations

Wednesday, 18 April 2007

1. The contribution of local partnerships to policy - opportunities and challenges in urban and rural contexts

This first day of the seminar offered participants the opportunity to review the role of partnerships in influencing policy in multi-level governance contexts. Presentations and case studies from Ireland and other OECD member countries illustrated resulting changes and adaptations in the organisational set-up of partnerships, including interactions with local stakeholders and communication strategies with national and sub-national governments.

This session introduced the debate about national co-ordination units of partnerships. A presentation of POBAL, the Irish co-ordination model illustrated the organisation's role towards local partnerships and national government agencies.

Lutz Franzke, Development Partnership “Structural Development and Labour Berlin-Brandenburg”, General Co-ordinator, Germanypresentation on how constant dripping hollows out a stone: convincing policy makers of what is needed locally

Thursday, 19 April 2007

2. The contribution of local partnerships to local skills strategies - opportunities and challenges in urban and rural contexts (Part A - Urban)

The contribution of partnerships to the design and implementation of local skills strategies in urban and rural contexts were reviewed with the help of case study presentations and discussions focused on challenges and barriers to and achievements in skills development of hard to reach groups. The programme was enriched by a study visit to the Ballymun partnership in Dublin and a presentation highlighting experiences in rural Canada.

The contribution of partnerships to local skills development in urban areas: a focus on strategies, tools and hard to reach groups

Linda Curran, Blanchardstown Area Partnership, Partnership Manger, Irelandpresentation on strategies and tools for skills development and labour market integration in urban areas - examples from Blanchardstown area

Johanna Gericke, Dacorum Borough Council – CEMENT Project, Equal Partnerships Manager, United Kingdompresentation on how to overcome "learned helplessness" - improving skills and employment options for young people at risk

Study visit to the Ballymun Partnership in Dublin
(boroughs 9 and 11)

Ballymun partnership, which covers an urban disadvantaged area in Dublin, is highly focused on social regeneration and has been involved in addressing the needs of its vulnerable community and helping them to participate in the broader economic and housing developments. A particular area of strength and interest has been in building the skills of mainstream agencies and local deliverers, including schools, in relation to the development and implementation of an education/early childhood strategy for the area. In this regard, they have developed good national links with policy makers and attracted philanthropic funding.

Friday, 20 April 2007

2. The contribution of local partnerships to local skills strategies - opportunities and challenges in urban and rural contexts (Part B - Rural)

The contribution of local partnerships - opportunities and challenges in rural contexts

David J. A. Douglas, University of Guelph, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, Professor of Rural Planning and Development, Canadaintroduction drawing on examples from rural Canada

Mathias Kuhlmann, LASA Brandenburg State Agency for Structural Development and Labour, Senior Consultant, Germanypresentation on how rural areas can best make use of their proximity to urban areas - and vice versa